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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sar on January 29, 2002, at 23:22:57
thanks everyone for any prior responses (when i get to the library tomorrow i'll post some more; right now i'm tying up the phone line at the boy's)...right now my urgent question is about hypomania: how would you describe it? what about if you drink constantly?
at the State hospital, the interviewers didn't seem very familiar with BP II. private pdocs, however, cottoned to dx'ing me as BP II. the ones at State said, "It's not very fair to give you that label if you don't have manic episodes--the best part--huh??"
in private hospitals they'd take the redfield-jamison point-of-view that BP II is more widespread and that hypomania involves irritability and some relative hyper-activity rather than BP I (racing thoughts, too-fast speech for anyone, etc...)
if bipolarity is chemical, why isn't there a scientific test?
what do yall believe in? nature? nurture? something else?
i brought this up in another thread, and i'm sorry to be repetitive (i'm just short on internet time and never know when i'll be cut off), but--how does one test for these things? my tests come back without result; my demeanor reveals nothing. i seem "happy." this makes me feel like crying--i am so sad! i can't help but appreciate humor, though, i can't help but laugh--and what to do? laughter and appreciation save me in the face of the most severe suicidal thoughts.
i'm slightly buzzed right now: the boys are in the next room discussing the Taliban. back to my original question: how would you describe hypomania? and what about hypomania with intoxication?
i ask this mostly because i was on prozac, which made me very happy and then very sad. i've read that prozac is the gold standard for depressives, but poison for bipolars. i am trying to figure out where i stand.
thanks,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on January 30, 2002, at 17:40:59
In reply to hypomania, posted by sar on January 29, 2002, at 23:22:57
Hon, these are all things I've asked myself:
"if bipolarity is chemical, why isn't there a scientific test"
depression is also checmical, and there is not a test.
"what do y'all believe in? nature? nurture? something else? "my guess is most of us would say both. sar, I've just started a book someone here recommended called "A Candle at Midnight". It is oriented toward Christianity, but not obsessively or offensively so (if you know what I mean). The author is quite a decent writer and she tackles a lot of the questions re: is it really a biological disorder? Should we feel guilty about it?
Again, keep in mind that I am not a "Christian" per say.
"how does one test for these things"- you can't. St. James pointed out on the board here once for me that many (most) diseases can't be tested for - Dr.'s evaluate the symptoms, try a course of medicine and see how it goes. Even my born-again Mom agrees with this.
re: "putting on a happy face" - most of "us" do that, sar. But your have a distinct history of attempted suicide. That makes any "mental illness" more than apparent to me.
I've always thought you were bipolar. But even that is just a label. I've begun to wonder if I'm schizophrenic lately with the way I can dissociate into another world.
YOU HAVE TO GET SOME GOOD CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please, plesae my darlin' sar.
- KK
p.s. Suicide has been heavily in my thoughts lately. It's more like a heavy cloak than a seering brand...
Posted by CtrlAlt n Del on January 30, 2002, at 22:12:09
In reply to Re: hypomania » sar, posted by Krazy Kat on January 30, 2002, at 17:40:59
I've begun to wonder if I'm schizophrenic lately with the way I can dissociate into another world.
Hey Dr.KK
Try not to analyse the illness too much I know I'm guilty of that.
I've known 2 schizophrenics well , bipolar 1 is very similar in manic stage .
And there's the mixed states feeling v high but hallucinating/hearing voices ect or the irritation uncontrolable anger one of which I rarely suffer from due to the effexor for some strange reason.
> p.s. Suicide has been heavily in my thoughts lately. It's more like a heavy cloak than a seering brand...
Yeh ...We all know bout that here....try and write bout it even though creatively it sucks then when your feeling well throw it away .The trapped hopelessnes is a hard one to deal with where you cannot do anything to get out of it and feel you never will.....I used to drink but now take a benzo to escape into oblivion till the emotional weather changes and you know it always does.
Anyways what would Dr.Eamer do without you and she's having a house warming party where everyone wears doc attire....bring your own plasma or saline.....I'll be the one on the stretcher shouting "The Birds The Birds save me from the BIRDS!."Dr.Eamer.
Posted by Ritch on January 30, 2002, at 23:57:09
In reply to hypomania, posted by sar on January 29, 2002, at 23:22:57
> thanks everyone for any prior responses (when i get to the library tomorrow i'll post some more; right now i'm tying up the phone line at the boy's)...right now my urgent question is about hypomania: how would you describe it? what about if you drink constantly?
>
> at the State hospital, the interviewers didn't seem very familiar with BP II. private pdocs, however, cottoned to dx'ing me as BP II. the ones at State said, "It's not very fair to give you that label if you don't have manic episodes--the best part--huh??"
>
> in private hospitals they'd take the redfield-jamison point-of-view that BP II is more widespread and that hypomania involves irritability and some relative hyper-activity rather than BP I (racing thoughts, too-fast speech for anyone, etc...)
>
> if bipolarity is chemical, why isn't there a scientific test?
>
> what do yall believe in? nature? nurture? something else?
>
> i brought this up in another thread, and i'm sorry to be repetitive (i'm just short on internet time and never know when i'll be cut off), but--how does one test for these things? my tests come back without result; my demeanor reveals nothing. i seem "happy." this makes me feel like crying--i am so sad! i can't help but appreciate humor, though, i can't help but laugh--and what to do? laughter and appreciation save me in the face of the most severe suicidal thoughts.
>
> i'm slightly buzzed right now: the boys are in the next room discussing the Taliban. back to my original question: how would you describe hypomania? and what about hypomania with intoxication?
>
> i ask this mostly because i was on prozac, which made me very happy and then very sad. i've read that prozac is the gold standard for depressives, but poison for bipolars. i am trying to figure out where i stand.
>
> thanks,
>
> sar
Hi Sar,Sorry to hear about your long and strange *trip*. The difference (my belief) between hypomania and psychotic mania is something like this:
1) Hypomania: A coworker might say something like "I wished I had what you are on!", and then go back to what they are doing and not think much else about it.
2) Mania: The local sheriff comes out to the local high school to take you home after you made the decision that you would stop by and give an impromptu version of your take on American History to an 8th grade class.
Mitch ::)
Posted by Ponder on February 24, 2002, at 16:21:25
In reply to Re: hypomania » sar, posted by Krazy Kat on January 30, 2002, at 17:40:59
KK...How was A Candle at Midnight? I have often anguished over the question of where the illness ends and issues of strength and character begin. Guilt and self-doubt add to the misery.
This is the end of the thread.
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